Improvement in skirt-elevators



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

CLINTON R. BLACKWOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN SKIRT-ELEVATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,278, dated April 28, 187.4-l application led April 6, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON R. BLACK- WOOD, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Skirt-Elevator, of which the following is a specification:

My object in this invention is to provide means whereby ladies may at will convert a train-dress into a walking-dress, and vice versa; and it consists of a skirt-elevator having a back-piece, on each side of which is a tube and an elevating-cord attached to the dress by means of rings and passing through the tubes, the arrangement being as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawing the elevator is seen applied to the person in dotted lines.

Figure 2 is a View ofthe elevator detached, showing the entire construction. Fig. 3 is a detail of the back-piece and tubes.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Ais the back-piece, which consists of any stili` or rigid material, as sheet-tin, pasteboard, or similar material, coveredv or inclosed in muslin or other textile fabric, B. This fabric extends forward over the hips, having a y waistband, C, which is secured in front by tying or a buckle. D D are tubes of elastic coiled wire, or other elastic material attached to the fabric B. E E are cords. F are rings attached to the dress, through which the cords pass, as seen in the drawing, Fig. 2. G are stop-pins, which prevent the cords being drawn through the rings or tubes. Both the cords are connected with the lower ring F', from which they extend upward in oblique directions through one or more rings above to the upper ring and stop-pins G. The other ends of these cords extend upward from the lower ring F', nearly parallel with each other, to the tubes D D, through which they pass. The cords render7' easily through the tubes, and by drawing on the ends H H it will be seen that the first ei'ect will be to elevate the train or rear portion of the dress. As the drawing is continued the rings above will be affected, and the dress will be drawn upward at the sides more or less, as may be desired. The cords H H are then tied together or fastened in any convenient manner in front, and the dress is to all intents and purposes a walking-dress. When the cords H H are untied or loosened the dress drops by its own gravity, and is readily adjusted by the wearer to show the train, the change from the short to the long dress or from the long to a short dress being made in a monient's time. When the cords are loosened there is no friction over the hips to retard the fall of the dress, and the wearer readily adjusts it to the desired position with her hands.

This elevator combines cheapness with simplicity, and in its construction and application means are adapted to the desired end in the most efcient manner.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A skirt or dress elevator, consisting essen- Y tially of the cords E E, rings F F F', waistband C, back-piece A, and iexible tubes D, the latter converging toward their lower` ends and united to the back-piece, all combined as and for the purpose specified.

CLINTON R. BLACKVVOOD.

Witnesses T. B. MosHER, ALEX. F. ROBERTS. 

